3.5.4 Permanent TANF Disqualification
Non-Compliance Sanction Policy
Revised July 28, 2019
Effective 07/28/19 families will no longer be permanently disqualified from receiving TANF benefits.
Families terminated in sanction may always reapply for TANF following the policies in 3.5.2 and 3.5.3.
Permanent disqualification no longer exists.
Legal References:
The Non-Compliance Sanction Policy section is divided in four separate sub-sections:
- Section 3.5.1 - Entering Sanction describes how to make the sanction decision.
- Section 3.5.2 -Ending Sanction describes what happens after a person is sanctioned and if they decide to stay in sanction for four months.
- Section 3.5.3- NCS Reapplications describes how to process reapplications from non-compliance sanction case closures
- Section 3.5.4 – Permanent TANF Disqualification describes why and how a person can be permanently disqualified from receiving TANF/SFA. (No longer valid as of 7/28/19.) This section includes
- 3.5.4.1– What is permanent TANF disqualification? (No longer valid as of 7/28/19.)
- 3.5.4.2 – What do I tell sanctioned persons about permanent TANF disqualification? (No longer valid as of 7/28/19.)
- 3.5.4.3 – What happens to participant who already have three NCS terminations who are currently complying with WorkFirst requirements? (Reapplication process.)
- 3.5.4.4 - How do I keep track of a participant's NCS terminations? (Continue to track NCS terminations).
- 3.5.4.5 - What is the process for permanently disqualifying someone? (No longer valid as of 7/28/19.)
3.5.4 Permanent TANF Disqualification- (No longer valid effective July 28, 2019.)
3.5.4.1 What is permanent TANF disqualification? (No longer valid as of July 28, 2019.)
When a participant has been closed for non-compliance sanction three or more times since March 1, 2007, he or she will be permanently disqualified from receiving TANF/SFA benefits. This means that this person will never again be eligible to receive TANF/SFA nor Diversion Cash Assistance (DCA) from the State of Washington.
In addition, the entire household that lives with the permanently disqualified person is ineligible to receive TANF/SFA or DCA as long as the disqualified person lives in the home.
The permanent disqualification does not apply to medical or food assistance.
We start the NCS termination count from March 1, 2007, because that is when the department began NCS case closures.
3.5.4.2 What do I tell sanctioned persons about permanent disqualification? (No longer valid as of July 28, 2019)
It is important to continually remind those participant who are falling out of compliance with their WorkFirst requirements about permanent TANF disqualification. When participants are entering sanction, they must be reminded that if they are closed for non-compliance sanction three times, they will be permanently disqualified. Remind participants of the number of NCS closures they have so far.
3.5.4.3 What happens to participant who already have three NCS terminations who are currently complying with WorkFirst requirements? (No longer valid as of July 28, 2019)
As of July 28, 2019, participants with three or more NCS terminations who are still active on TANF will be allowed to continue to receive TANF/SFA benefits.
** NOTE: In cases where someone cures their sanction before the end of the second month, or when the NCS termination is overturned in fair hearing, be sure to go into the ACES WORK screen and remove that termination date when reinstating the case. **
3.5.4.4 How do I keep track of a participant’s NCS terminations?
For continued tracking purposes, the dates of NCS terminations are tracked on the ACES WORK screen. It will list the months and years of a participant's NCS case closures (these are the paid through months, so if it says 11/2010, that means the participant received TANF through 11/30/2010). It will also list the date the participant re-qualified for TANF benefits.
It is extremely important that if a participant cures a sanction after deadline for the second month, that the WORK screen is corrected by removing that termination date.
3.5.4.5 What is the process for permanently disqualifying someone? (No longer valid as of July 28, 2019)
When denying an application for TANF/SFA or DCA because someone has been permanently disqualified, or terminating TANF/SFA because of a third NCS closure, the three NCS terminations that caused the disqualification must be manually reviewed and verified. To do this:
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Go into the ACES WORK screen to see the month and year of the three NCS termination dates.
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Go into the “B” menu for the TANF assistance unit (AU) in the month after each NCS termination month to view the reason why the case closed. NCS closures have a 252 termination code.
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Look through the narrative to ensure that none of the NCS closures listed were overturned by fair hearing.
Once determined the NCS terminations are correct, the case can be processed. ACES will generate a denial or termination letter. When a case is closing for the third NCS and is also being permanently disqualified, it is important to continue to follow the NCS closure process and list in the letter why they are being terminated and what they failed to do. Refer to chapter 3.5.2.6 – What if a supervisor approves a case for sanction/penalty and it is time to close the case?